Beilinson hospital sues for NIS 300,000 ($79,650) in compensation for services provided to injured activists after the May 2010 incident • The clash between commandos and activists trying to breach naval blockade on Gaza left nine Turkish citizens dead.

Nitzi Yakov

Flotilla activists strike IDF soldiers on the Mavi Marmara, May 2010.

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Photo credit: IDF Spokesperson's Unit

Nearly two years after the clash between Israeli commandos and activists on the Turkish-flagged Mavi Maramara ship, which was overtaken by Israeli forces while trying to breach the naval blockade of Gaza, one of the Israeli hospitals that treated the injured is suing the state for compensation.

Beilinson Medical Center (now part of the Rabin Medical Center) in Petach Tikva is suing the state for NIS 300,000 ($79,650) in compensation for treatment and services provided to dozens of the injured activists who arrived there after the May 2010 incident. The state also owes other hospital funds for services provided to other injured activists.

"Before executing the operation, security forces asked the hospital to prepare to take in the injured, according to standard regulations for emergencies," the hospital claimed in its lawsuit. "This required the hospital to pay additional expenses and salaries to employees who were mobilized as part of the effort."

The clash on the Mavi Marmara left nine Turkish activists dead and several Israeli commandos wounded. After Israeli forces took control of the ship, the state transferred those who required medical attention to several hospitals, including Beilinson. The government promised to cover the expenses, but has yet to do so. Officials at Beilinson hospital stressed that they did everything in their power to avoid filing a lawsuit against the state, and in particular the Defense Ministry, the Prime Minister's Office and the Health Ministry.

"The Defense Ministry recruited the hospital to treat 13 of the injured, who are not citizens of Israel, and the cost of treating them was high," the hospital's lawsuit said. "On multiple occasions, the hospital turned to officials in the Defense Ministry, but did not get the payment that was promised. We hope the payment is transferred quickly and that it renders the lawsuit unnecessary."